By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Until he fixes his offense, whatever Kirk Ferentz says to suggest that it will be better will be met with heavy skepticism, and deservedly so, and with some snark and ridicule.

That was certainly the case in response to Ferentz saying this at Big Ten Media Day on Wednesday:

“We have the potential to be a good offensive team.”

Ferentz would go on to say more about having to take steps and work hard to improve as all coaches do in that situation.

But it didn’t matter.

Kirk Ferentz already had said enough with those 10 words to cause an eyebrow-raising reaction.

For those who weren’t reacting with just snark and ridicule, they wanted to know what Kirk Ferentz means by good?

And they wanted to know why fans should believe him after what they witnessed in each of the past two seasons on offense.

Those are both fair questions.

As for those who chose to poke fun of the statement, or question why Kirk Ferentz would make such a statement, what is he supposed to say under the circumstances?

It’s Big Ten Media Day, an annual feel-good event where everyone is undefeated and undeterred.

Even if Kirk Ferentz still has major concerns about his offense, he wouldn’t share them at Big Ten Media Day.

He simply said that he thinks they have the potential to be a good offensive team.

Did you expect him to say something like this:

“Well, I know we’ve hired a new offensive coordinator and Cade McNamara is now fully healthy again, but I still think we’re going to suck on offense. We’re still slow, lack imagination, and remember even with Tim Lester now running the offense, it’s still my offense.”

Part of being a head coach is sending the right message and saying the rights things at the right time.

Of course, Kirk Ferentz was doing public relations when he made the statement about his offense.

But he also believes what he said because when you’ve coached for as long as Kirk Ferentz has, and won as much as he has, you trust your instincts and you trust those around you, sometimes in Kirk Ferentz’s case, you trust them too much.

Head coaches by nature are optimistic because optimism helps to create energy, passion and purpose.

If you could just try to block out the last two seasons on offense and look at things right now from a health and personnel standpoint, it’s easier to understand Kirk Ferentz’s optimism.

Tim Lester, at least on paper, appears to be a significant step up from previous offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who is Kirk Ferentz’s son, while Cade McNamara is 100 percent healthy for the first time as a Hawkeye quarterback.

Standout tight end Luke Lachey is also healthy after having suffered a season-ending leg injury in the third game last season.

Iowa also has two quarterbacks with starting experience at the Big Ten level in McNamara and Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan.

Throw in three experienced running backs and what might be the most experienced offensive line in the country and there is reason to at least be sort of optimistic.

Especially if you’re the head coach.

In fairness to Kirk Ferentz, all he said is they have the potential to be good on offense.

He said it because he believes it.

What would qualify as good is open for debate.

In Iowa’s case, good would be averaging 375 to 400 yards and 25 points per game.

Those numbers would make Lester a genius, even though they’re not spectacular numbers, and with Iowa’s defense, special teams and schedule, it could make for a fun season.

Potentially.